by Calculated Risk on 1/20/2012 10:00:00 AM

The NAR reports: December Existing-Home Sales Show Uptrend

The latest monthly data shows total existing-home sales rose 5.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.61 million in December from a downwardly revised 4.39 million in November, and are 3.6 percent higher than the 4.45 million-unit level in December 2010.
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Total housing inventory at the end of December dropped 9.2 percent to 2.38 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.2-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 7.2-month supply in November.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows existing home sales, on a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) basis since 1993.

Sales in December 2011 (4.61 million SAAR) were 5.0% higher than last month, and were 3.6% above the December 2010 rate.

The second graph shows nationwide inventory for existing homes.

According to the NAR, inventory decreased to 2.38 million in December from 2.62 million in November. This is the lowest level of inventory since March 2005.

The last graph shows the year-over-year (YoY) change in reported existing home inventory and months-of-supply. Since inventory is not seasonally adjusted, it really helps to look at the YoY change. Note: Months-of-supply is based on the seasonally adjusted sales and not seasonally adjusted inventory.

Inventory decreased 21.2% year-over-year in December from December 2010. This is the tenth consecutive month with a YoY decrease in inventory.

Months of supply decreased to 6.2 months in December, down from 7.2 months in November. This is still a little higher than normal.

These sales numbers were right at the Tom Lawler's estimate of 4.64 million.

All current Existing Home Sales graphs